AUGUST. 319 



becomes a flossy mass of down, occasionally used for 

 stuffing cushions ; and on closely examining this 

 down, it will be perceived, that amongst it is a count- 

 less number of seeds, each with a distinct feathery 

 appendage, to waft it safely over those waters where 

 it had its origin, and wing its way, through fields of 

 air, to settle, and in due time adorn other waters in 

 the same ornamental manner as its parent. The bar- 

 ren florets are yellow, placed above the fertile ones, 

 and in the maturity of the plant disappear.' The 

 manner in which Providence has arranged the disper- 

 sion of the seeds is most remarkable, design being 

 ever apparent that they shall not be easily destroyed 

 after they have arrived by a long process at maturity. 

 This is often particularly observable in plants growing 

 in watery places. "We have before noticed the "globose 

 wig" of the Dandelion, and the Willow-herbs (Epilo- 

 Hum), present a varied structure illustrative of the 

 same mode of dispersion. The seeds, however, are 

 primarily concealed, and protected within long cap- 

 sules, which it might be thought was sufficient for the 

 purpose but no ! within the capsule and adjusted 

 with the utmost elegance, each seed is seen provided 

 with a plume, so close pressed that they present in 

 the aggregate the rnoniliform aspect of the antennae 

 of a Capricorn beetle ! JSTo sooner do the four valves 

 of the capsule split at the summit, than the silken 

 plumes distend, spread out their delicate tufts like 

 rays of light, and instead of being immersed in the 

 waters on whose margin they grow, either float about 

 like buoys on the surface, or are raised aloft at the 

 impulse of the gentlest breeze. 



In thus dilating upon botanical phenomena, I have, 



